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WASHINGTON, D.C., May 8, 2018—American Advertising Federation Board Chair Kim Kelleher announced today that the Federation's longtime President & CEO, James Edmund Datri, has informed the Federation's officers that he will step down from his AAF post on October 10th of this year, after completing 10 years of service to the organization.

Kelleher is calling a special meeting this month of the AAF Board to discuss the formation of a committee to lead the search for Datri's successor. The Board will also meet in Chicago next month, as part of the organization's annual ADMERICA event, where Kelleher says the Federation will celebrate Datri's decade-long tenure.

Kim Kelleher said: "Jim began his tenure with the AAF in the midst of the 2008 financial crisis, and navigated the Federation through those difficult waters to new-found success. Among the many highlights of Jim's tenure were his moving the annual Advertising Hall of Fame event from a luncheon to a grand dinner, quintupling its revenue and increasing its stature and attendance; and transforming the Hall of Achievement into a successful bi-coastal event, now held in alternating years in New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco."

James Edmund Datri said: "I love this organization, its members, its mission, and its unique place in our industry, and it will always be one of my life's greatest joys and honors to have served as its president and CEO. With the amazing talent in this industry and in our organization, I am confident the Federation's Board will select an incredible new AAF president, and I look forward to working with that new leader to ensure the AAF reaches even greater heights in the years ahead. As for my next step, what began as a side passion project with my godson and cousin Colby Reed Miller, producing films under the Miller/Datri Pictures banner, I now look forward to pursuing full-time with him in October, and to further expanding that into a larger entertainment and production company."